Automatic life jacket inflator adapter



July 6, 1965 R. J. TRAUGER AUTOMATIC LIFE JACKET INFLATOR ADAPTER FiledDec. 11, 19s:

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 6, 1965 R. J. TRAUGER AUTOMATIC LIFE JACKETINFLATOR ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, .1965

,1908597' cl Mal/2553 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,193,140 Patented July 6, 1965 3,193,140AUTOMATIC LIFE JACKET INFLATOR ADAPTER Robert J. Trauger, 444 W. DuarteRoad, Arcadia, Calif. Filed Dec. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 329,931 7 Claims.(Cl. 222-3) (Granted under Title 35, us. Code (1952), see. 266) Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates generally to inflatable life preservers andparticularly to an adapter which can be attached to the standardinflating apparatus furnished with such inflatable life preserverswhereby the life preserver will be automatically inflated when thewearer enters the Water without detracting from the usual manualoperation of the standard inflating apparatus.

Due to the phenomenal increase of intercontinental passenger air trafficand the increase in the number of persons turning to aquatic sports andpursuits during their leisure time, the need for suitable light weightlife preservers has been acceleratingly manifested. Such need is partlyanswered by the gas inflatable life preserver which was developed forthe use of aviation personnel during the last war. Such life preserversare inflated by gas upon the manual actuation of a valve by the wearer.However, this type of life preserver is unacceptable to many safetyorganizations because, in many instances, the

wearer will not have time to actuate the inflating device; the wearermay be injured by the fall into the water and thus incapable ofactuating the inflating device; or may be unable to actuate theinflating device because of fright, extreme excitement or otheremotional disturbances, or injuries.

While some inflatable life preservers have been designed with built-inautomatic inflation devices, the great majority of those now in use andon the market are equipped only with the well known manually operatedgas inflator. Obviously, some auxiliary device is needed to provideexisting life preservers with a means for automatic operation.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a smalllightweight adapter which can be used on existing life preservers toactuate the gas inflation device automatically.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adapter which ispositive in operation and actuates the usual manually operated inflationdevice within seconds after the wearer has entered the water.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an adapter as willbe economical of construction and can be sold reasonably.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a typical inflatable life jacket orpreserver on which the invention is used;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the device in use with the topcover removed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2showing certaindetails of construction;

FIG. 4 is similar cross-sectional elevation to that shown in FIG. 2illustrating the mode of operation of the device;

FIG. 5 is a plan View showing certain construction details;

FIG. 6 is a partly cross-sectional elevation view taken on the line 66of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 1, an inflatable life jacket 10 is shown,provided with a mouth inflator tube 11, two CO inflator cartridgeholders 12, various straps 13 for attachment of the life preserver tothe body of the wearer and the automatic life jacket inflator 15illustrated as being in position for attachment to the cartridge holder12.

The CO cartridge holder 12 is standard and well known equipment. A COcartridge, not shown, is inserted therein, neck down, and retained inplace by threaded cap 14. Lever 16, which is pivoted at the lower end ofthe holder, operates an internal piercing pin, not shown, when it isjerked downwardly by the cord 17. The pin, being forced upwardly intothe neck of the CO cartridge releases the gas which is then conductedinto the interior of the life jacket. By means of a heavy compressionspring mounted internally of the cartridge holder, not shown, lever 16is normally maintained in an upright position. Means are provided tolock the lever in the upright position when the jacket is not in use.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7, inclusive the invention 15 comprises a pair ofcircular end plates 20 enclosing an assembly of levers and springs soadjusted and combined that, when release is effected, lever 16 is forceddownwardly and CO or other fluid employed, is released into the jacketcompartments. Attached externally to one of the end plates, and pivotedcentrally thereto, is a mounting block adapter 22, shown best in FIGS. 5and 6, which adapter serves to attach the device 15 to the cartridgeholder 12. The adapter contains a bore 24 which is sized so as toreceive the lower end of holder 12 and hold the automatic inflator 15frictionally in position thereon. A slit 26 is provided so that theadapter 22 may be installed over the lever 16 and also so as not tointerfere with its downward movement.

The lever 16 is forced downwardly by the driving pin 28, bifurcateddriving lever 30, and strong torsion spring 32 when the mechanism isreleased as will be later described in more detail. Bifurcated drivinglever 30 and torsion spring 32 are mounted for limited rotation on pivot34. This pivot 34 has one squared end which fits into a similarly shapedaperture in one of the end plates. Pivot 34 is also provided with areceptacle for receiving the inner end of the torsion spring 32, therebyanchoring it to the end plates.

The driving pin 28 is mounted between the outward ends of bifurcateddriving lever 30. The portion of the pin between the lever bifurcationsserves as an anchor for the outward working end 33 of the torsion spring32. The outer or striking portion 29 of the pin 28 is reduced indiameter and is of sufficient length to be inserted between the lever 16and the holder 12 when the device is installed by means of the adapter22. Thus the pin 28 is shown in the cocked, or working position in FIG.2 and in the discharged position or condition in FIG. 4.

As will be noted best in FIG. 4 bifurcated driving lever 30 is providedwith a small cylindrical spacer or roller pin 35 in its outer end andinboard of the driving pin 28. Sear 36, having a hooked end 37, ispivoted between the end plates by pivot 38 which pivot is mountedbetween and near the outer periphery of the end plates and substantiallydiametrically opposite the spring pivot 34. When driving lever 30 isforcibly moved clockwise, the roller in 35 drops under the hooked end 37of the sear 36 and the device is then in the cocked or workingcondition. Small torsion spring 39 is provided to assist in theretention of sear 36 on roller pin 35.

Pivoted on the sear pivot 38 is hammer lever 40. This hammer lever ispartly bifurcated at its pivot end, to receive the sear 36. The extentof this bifurcation is indicated by the shoulder 41 indicated in FIGS. 2and 4. When the device is in the cocked position as in FIG. 2,

, a 3 r V sear 36 and hammer lever 40 are at substantially right angles.When the hammer lever is released, it moves clockwise until shoulder 41abuts against the lower edge of the sear 36. This forcible abutmentpushes sear 36 upwardly and as the hooked end 37 clears the roller pinthe scope of the appended claims the invention may be I practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

535, spring loaded lever 30 is released for partial clockwise rotation.

Hammer lever 40 is supplied with a rotatable pin 42. into which isscrewed the threaded endof the cocking rod 44. Hammer lever 40 isrecessed in the vicinity of pin 42 so as to allow ample angular motionof the lever and the cocking rodwith relation to each other. 'Thecocking rod 44 is supported in a trunnion block 46 which is freelypivoted between the end plates. Mounted on the cocking rod between thetrunnion block 46 and pin 42 is a strong compression spring 48 whichserves to drive the hammer lever in a clockwise direction when thatlever is released. Cocking rod 44, which is freely movable in trunnionblock 46, is provided with a knurled head 50 by which it may be pulledoutwardly when cocking the device. Y

Hammer lever 40 is provided with upper and lower shallow cylindricaldepressions 52, as shown in FIG. 7, which depressions are concentricwith pin 42.

These depressions register with apertures 54 which are formed intheadjacent end plates. These depressions and apertures are adapted toreceive a cylindrically shaped soluble wafer 56 whose function will bedescribed later.

In the normal use of my invention, the adapter is ren dered into thecocked condition by moving'bifurcated releasable means for cooking thedriving lever in an operating position; and means for releasing thecocking means from the driving lever when said equipment-is immersed ina water environment. I e I 2. An automatically operable inflator asclaimed in claim 1 wherein 'said means for cocking said driving lever Iin an operating position comprise:

apivoted sear adaptedto releasably engage said driving lever when saiddriving lever. is placed in a cocked position. 7

3. An automatically operable inflator as claimed in claim 2 furthercharacterized by said means for releasing said driving lever when saidlife saving equipment is imdriving lever in clockwise rotation againsttheaction of the tor'sionspring 32 until pin can be embraced by thehooked end'3 7- of the sear 36. Hammer lever is then rotatedcounterclockwise by pulling outwardly on' the cocking rod 44. When thehammer lever is so rotated until it becomes substantially perpendicularto the sear 36, depression 52 registers with aperture 54 in the endplate and a soluble or electrolytically active wafer 56 maybe inserted.,As will be evident, the wafer, being installed partly in the depression52' in the hammer lever and partly in the aperture 54 in the end plate,locks the lever in relation to the end plate against the compressiveforce of spring 48 on cocking rod 44. These wafers may be any one ofthereadily water soluble medicinal type wafers or. pellets presentlyavailable in the market.

Being in a fully cocked condition, the automatic inflator is theninstalled in the cartridge holder 12 as previously 1 described. When thewearer of the inflatable life preserver enters the water, the wafer 56quickly dissolves.

This dissolution releases hammer lever 40 which, under the influence ofthe compression spring 48,-rotatee clock wise, strikes sear.36v and byrotating the latter i'nia clockwie direction, releases the bifurcateddriving lever ,30'

which is then free to rotate counterclockwise under the influence oftorsion spring32. In so rotating, driving pin 28 forces lever 16 to alsorotate counterclockwise which mersed in a water environment comprising:

a pivoted spring loaded hammer lever adapted to engage a portion of saidsear for forcing said sear out of engagement with said driving lever;and

means, including awater soluble pellet, for positioning V i the springloaded hammer lever out of engagement with the sear 'until said watersoluble pellet has dissolved, e v whereby upon a dissolving of saidpellet the hammer is sprung to' engage the-sear and the sear releasesthe pivoted lever to operate the gas inflation device. 4. Anadapter forexisting inflatable life saving equipment to. be used, ,in 'a waterenvironment wherein the adapter is capable of automatically operating amanually operable leverof said equipment uponimmersion in said water,said adapter comprising:

j P a s I f means, mounted on said plate, for releasably securing theoperable inflator to, said gas inflation device;

' a driving leverpivoted to said plate and adapted to engage themanually operable lever when the operable inflator is securedto said gasinflation device;

spring {means connected to said'plate for forcing the driving lever toengage and operate said manually I operable lever; i

V a sear pivoted to theplate and adapted to releasably engage thedriving lever when the driving lever is in a cocked position;

4 a hammer lever pivoted tosaid plate and adapted to with the insertionof another wafer, and then replaced on the jacket.

. {It will be noted that usually'the cartridge holders 12 are suppliedin pairs, one left and onefirighthanded; By swivelling; the adapter 22,the inflator 15 may be mounted on either holder. .Also, the wafer 56 maybe" inserted in either. upper or lower depressions .52 as may be convenient. It should be :notedthatmy invention can be utilized withinflatable" life rafts and'other forms of infi'atable equipment whichmay be used in water environ.

ment. T v

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the flightof the above teachings' It is therefore to b'e'unde rstood that-within engage thesear; I a spring means connected tosaid plate for forcing the hammer lever to engage the sear andreleasethe sear from said driving lever; and means including at least onesoluble pellet in engagement with said plate forretaining the'hammerlever in..a cocked position until said. operable inflator is immersed'inthe water environment, i whereby upon a dissolving of said pelletthe;hammer is sprung to .engage'the scar and the sear releases the drivinglever to operate the manually operable lever of said gas inflationdevice." V

V 5. Angadapter as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring means forforcing the hammer lever'to engage the sear and release the sear fromthedrivingdever includes: 1

acocking rod;

a pin rotatably connected to said hammer lever;

said cocking rod being threaded at one end into the rotatable pin andbeing pivoted intermediate its ends to said plate; and

a compression spring mounted on the cocking rod be- 5 tween the threadedend and the pivot point of said cocking rod.

6. An adapter as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the sear and the hammer lever are pivoted to said plate at a commonpivot point; and

said hammer lever being bifurcated at its pivot end so as to receive thesear when the hammer lever is in the cocked position and engage the searfor releasing purposes when said hammer lever has been released.

7. An adapter as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the spring means for forcing the driving lever to engage and operatesaid manually operable portion is a torsion spring;

a driving pin is mounted at the working end of said driving lever; and

said torsion spring is connected at one end to said plate and at anopposite end to said driving pin.

References fitted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,319 8/52Petry 2223 2,904,218 9/59 Pontious et ai. 222-5 2,919,833 1/60 Wolshin2225 15 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE INFLATOR FOR INFLATABLE LIFE SAVINGEQUIPMENT USED IN A WATER ENVIROMENT WHICH LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT ISFURNISHED WITH A MANUALLY OPERABLE GAS INFLATION DEVICE, SAIDAUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE INFLATOR COMPRISING: MEANS FOR SECURING SAIDOPERABLE INFLATOR TO SAID GAS INFLATOR DEVICE; A PIVOTED DRIVING LEVERADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE MANUALLY OPERABLE PORTION OF SAID GAS INFLATIONDEVICE; SPRING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID PIVOTED LEVER FOR FORCING SAIDLEVER TO ENGAGE AND OPERATE SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE PORTION; RELEASABLEMEANS FOR COCKING THE DRIVING LEVER IN AN OPERATING POSITION; AND